Senior Zero Trust Security Architect – Special Projects

Etelligent-Group-LLC; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

eTelligent Group, LLC supports the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in turning its Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) strategy into operating practice across its Institutes and Centers (ICs). This position is the technical lead for Government-directed ZTA special projects, turning NIH's Zero Trust direction into practical architecture, analysis, and implementation support.

Work involves architecture and gap analysis, options analyses, and collaboration with stakeholders to deliver NIH-wide ZTA

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or related field.
• At least 10 years of security architecture or engineering experience with Zero Trust in federal hybrid or cloud environments.
• Hands-on ICAM, micro-segmentation, cloud security, and policy enforcement experience.
• Working knowledge of the NIST RMF, SP 800-53 Rev. 5, and control inheritance.
• A CISSP or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

• Perform architecture and gap analysis against NIH reference patterns and the NIH ZTA Overlay.
• Support IC-specific adoption of NIH reference architectures and AI-enabled ZTA pilots.
• Develop implementation plans, design documents, and configuration guidance for ZTA initiatives.
• Assess how proposed designs affect control inheritance, authorization, and continuous monitoring.
• Brief technical and leadership stakeholders and contribute to planning briefs and closeout memos.

Skills

ICAM

Micro-segmentation

Cloud security

Policy enforcement

Education

Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity / computer science / information systems

CISSP or equivalent certification

CCSP / CCZT or cloud security certification (AWS/Azure)

Job description

Senior Zero Trust Security Architect – Special Projects

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Company Overview:

Over the past 15 years, eTel has delivered essential solutions for the federal government by securing and managing data, providing scalable identity access, modernizing legacy systems, and building high-performance platforms. By integrating new technologies and ensuring reliable operations we help agencies stay prepared for future challenges As a premier technology solutions and services company to the US federal government, eTel possesses longstanding relationships across the federal civilian marketplace. Other customers include the broader Treasury Department, Commerce Department, and State Department.

eTel offers integrated CMMI Level 3 processes, tools, and techniques with innovative, cost-efficient, and secure solutions to address complex challenges. eTel also holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 certifications, and offers dedicated subject matter experts (SMEs) and thought leaders that possess a deep understanding of customers’ environments and challenges.

Work Location and On-Site/Telework Requirements: Hybrid. You'll work remotely and on site at NIH facilities in Bethesda and Rockville, MD, for workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder meetings, as the work requires. Work is performed on Government-furnished equipment under NIH access requirements.

Eligibility: Ability to obtain and maintain NIH suitability and a PIV credential. An existing Tier 2 (Moderate Risk Public Trust) or higher investigation, eligible for reciprocity, is preferred. No security clearance is required. English fluency, spoken and written.

Overview:

eTelligent Group, LLC supports the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in turning its Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) strategy into operating practice across its Institutes and Centers (ICs). This position supports Task 8, Special Projects: a dedicated team, separate from the core program staff, that develops and delivers NIH-wide ZTA training and supports Government-directed ZTA special projects. This architect is the technical lead for Government-directed ZTA special projects. You'll turn NIH's Zero Trust direction into practical architecture, analysis, and implementation support for specific initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Technical analysis: Perform architecture and gap analysis against NIH reference patterns, the NIH ZTA Overlay, and the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model. Develop options analyses with clear recommendations.
• Discrete initiatives: Support work such as IC-specific adoption of NIH reference architectures, pilots of AI-enabled ZTA use cases, and inherited-controls onboarding for systems added to the FISMA inventory.
• Implementation support: Develop implementation plans, design documents, and configuration guidance, and support testing and validation for assigned ZTA initiatives.
• Security documentation: Assess how proposed designs affect control inheritance, authorization, and continuous monitoring evidence.
• Briefings: Brief technical and leadership stakeholders, and contribute technical content to planning briefs, status reports, and closeout memos.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information systems, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of security architecture or engineering experience, including Zero Trust implementation in federal hybrid or cloud environments.
• Hands-on expertise in ICAM, micro-segmentation, cloud security, and policy enforcement.
• Working knowledge of the NIST RMF, SP 800-53 Rev. 5, and control inheritance.
• A CISSP or equivalent certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A CCSP, CCZT, or cloud security certification (AWS, Azure).
• Experience in HHS, NIH, or research or clinical computing environments.
• Experience securing AI/ML workloads or applying AI-enabled security analytics.

Commitment to Diversity -
eTelligent Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nations origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, and any other characteristic provided in accordance with applicable, federal, state and local laws.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in eTelligent Group LLC’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.